I've been learning a lot about the birds and the bees recently.
Our stray female dog, Duquesa, who has adopted our home as her own, is in heat and has called every male dog within a mile radius to our property.
For the past week, every hour of every day and every night, the dogs have been barking and fighting over her. It started out with 2 or 3 dogs loitering on the property and now we're up to 9 or 10. This is the first time I've actually witnessed this interaction and, though I know it's completely natural, I'm finding myself getting extremely agitated and downright angry with these dogs.
I've taken up my broom as a means of scattering their incessant antics. I don't think poor Lucas understands fully what's going on... but he sure enjoys making his presence known with growling and barking when he hears the others fighting.
Sure, this is all normal and part of nature, yet I have found a deep, churning indignation inside of me of which I haven't been able to let go.
Just this morning, the Lord revealed to me why. I don't know why it took me so long to realize it... it's quite obvious.
The young men and women here act no different than dogs in heat.
Honestly.
I mean no harm by these words but I say them, rather, to make a point... we are not dogs. God gave us dominion over animals, not to act like them.
Just this week, I came face-to-face with difficult conversations with the girls in Talita Cum and it has challenged me to refine the direction we are heading.
On Tuesday, I picked up one of my girls, Keila, as I saw her walking along the road to our class in Villa Enmanuel. Little did I know that this was a door God was opening. She helped me unload the supplies and also pack them up again after class. As we were headed back to the van, we went over to the director of the school, Evely, to thank her and say goodbye. It was then that Evely abruptly informed me that Keila, who is 13, has an 18 year-old boyfriend. Evely asked Keila if she wants to become a mother so soon, saying this not to pass judgement but out of concern for her education and well-being.
I have to admit, the walk back to the van was a little awkward after that conversation, but I'm so grateful that God allowed such a direct confrontation to occur. I told Keila that I in no way look down upon her, nor does Evely, but we only speak out of love and concern. Young men see her beauty and don't care that she's just a little girl. Keila is a beautiful individual with a gentle and quiet spirit, and neither one of us wants to see her get hurt.
On the ride home, God began tugging on my heart to share with her my decision to wait. I told her how I've never had a boyfriend and how I pray everyday for the man God has chosen to be my husband. I encouraged her that her life is too precious to be wasted on a boy, especially at her age. She's too young to be experiencing relations that are meant for marriage. But I had to give her to Jesus as I dropped her off and just pray that He draws her heart unto Him.
Then Thursday afternoon came... as well as 10 more new girls in Zion's Talita Cum class. With each new girl that entered the room, my instinct was to panic, but God's word quickly came to me from Isaiah 54:2 once more...
We began the lesson with our memory verse from Romans 12:1-2...
It is amazing how perfect this verse is for such a time as this.
We then made a list of decisions we face in life in relation to their level of importance. For example, the choice of what item to buy for a snack at the colmado would be a decision of lesser importance in comparison to the decision to attend university or to whom one will marry.
We were about to move on to a new topic when I felt a tug in my spirit again to bring up one decision no one had mentioned... the decision to have sex before marriage or to wait.
I was explaining how this would be a decision of great importance when one of the girls in the back of the classroom interrupted, arguing that it is a decision of lesser importance. She went on to imply that sex is no more difficult of a decision than choosing to breathe. I certainly wasn't expecting such opposition so soon. All eyes turned to me as the girls were eager to see how I would respond.
Once more this week, I shared with this ever-growing group of young girls my personal decision to wait for marriage. I told them how old I am and how I view this part of me as a gift from God to be given to one man. I've wanted to be sensitive to the Lord's timing in sharing this and when I came face-to-face that day with the lie so many believe about their self-worth, I knew God was opening the door.
I've learned that many of the young girls, having no respect for their bodies, get dressed up at night to hang out as men go "a la caza" or "on the hunt," as if women were animals. My friend Judith, a missionary from Mexico, shared with me how she overheard a young man openly and proudly confessing these words, and how when someone corrected him in saying that these girls are not animals, he begged to differ.
Now you tell me... how is that any different than dogs in heat?
This brings me to answered prayer.
I've shared how, since the moment I stepped foot in Zion Village the beginning of this year, the Lord not only placed empower girls on my heart, but a discipleship program for the boys, as well. I have been praying and praying for this, because I know no lasting change will occur in the lives of these girls as long as they have men chasing after them and continually speaking the lie that women have no value.
I am THRILLED to announce that Judith's husband, Daniel, is leading a sports discipleship program to reach these young men.
Now, more than ever, we need your prayers. Would you join me in praying Matthew 9:37-38?
With our numbers growing, Daniel and I can't do this alone. I'm praying the Lord sends us selfless workers who speak Spanish fluently and who are passionately on fire for God and leading young men and women. There is no doubt in me that God plans to strengthen and expand this ministry in reaching more of His lost and hurting children. We need discernment and wisdom, and we're boldly asking Jesus for His resurrection power and life-changing miracles.
I cannot thank my readers and supporters enough for your financial and prayerful support of this mission. I stand firmly by my belief that your prayers are the greatest gift you could ever offer and I'm pleading for more. You are just as important in this mission as any one person here and your prayers for lives to be changed and transformed are working as you read this... Hallelujah!
The dogs won't change their mating habits, they are already living out God's design. But are we?
I believe God is doing a new work, raising the dead to life, and His people will return to Him as they come to know the love of Jesus.
Our stray female dog, Duquesa, who has adopted our home as her own, is in heat and has called every male dog within a mile radius to our property.
Duquesa with one of her many friends
For the past week, every hour of every day and every night, the dogs have been barking and fighting over her. It started out with 2 or 3 dogs loitering on the property and now we're up to 9 or 10. This is the first time I've actually witnessed this interaction and, though I know it's completely natural, I'm finding myself getting extremely agitated and downright angry with these dogs.
I've taken up my broom as a means of scattering their incessant antics. I don't think poor Lucas understands fully what's going on... but he sure enjoys making his presence known with growling and barking when he hears the others fighting.
Lucas just wants to play!
Just this morning, the Lord revealed to me why. I don't know why it took me so long to realize it... it's quite obvious.
The young men and women here act no different than dogs in heat.
Honestly.
I mean no harm by these words but I say them, rather, to make a point... we are not dogs. God gave us dominion over animals, not to act like them.
Just this week, I came face-to-face with difficult conversations with the girls in Talita Cum and it has challenged me to refine the direction we are heading.
On Tuesday, I picked up one of my girls, Keila, as I saw her walking along the road to our class in Villa Enmanuel. Little did I know that this was a door God was opening. She helped me unload the supplies and also pack them up again after class. As we were headed back to the van, we went over to the director of the school, Evely, to thank her and say goodbye. It was then that Evely abruptly informed me that Keila, who is 13, has an 18 year-old boyfriend. Evely asked Keila if she wants to become a mother so soon, saying this not to pass judgement but out of concern for her education and well-being.
Beautiful Keila
I have to admit, the walk back to the van was a little awkward after that conversation, but I'm so grateful that God allowed such a direct confrontation to occur. I told Keila that I in no way look down upon her, nor does Evely, but we only speak out of love and concern. Young men see her beauty and don't care that she's just a little girl. Keila is a beautiful individual with a gentle and quiet spirit, and neither one of us wants to see her get hurt.
On the ride home, God began tugging on my heart to share with her my decision to wait. I told her how I've never had a boyfriend and how I pray everyday for the man God has chosen to be my husband. I encouraged her that her life is too precious to be wasted on a boy, especially at her age. She's too young to be experiencing relations that are meant for marriage. But I had to give her to Jesus as I dropped her off and just pray that He draws her heart unto Him.
Then Thursday afternoon came... as well as 10 more new girls in Zion's Talita Cum class. With each new girl that entered the room, my instinct was to panic, but God's word quickly came to me from Isaiah 54:2 once more...
"Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes"
We began the lesson with our memory verse from Romans 12:1-2...
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
It is amazing how perfect this verse is for such a time as this.
We then made a list of decisions we face in life in relation to their level of importance. For example, the choice of what item to buy for a snack at the colmado would be a decision of lesser importance in comparison to the decision to attend university or to whom one will marry.
We were about to move on to a new topic when I felt a tug in my spirit again to bring up one decision no one had mentioned... the decision to have sex before marriage or to wait.
I was explaining how this would be a decision of great importance when one of the girls in the back of the classroom interrupted, arguing that it is a decision of lesser importance. She went on to imply that sex is no more difficult of a decision than choosing to breathe. I certainly wasn't expecting such opposition so soon. All eyes turned to me as the girls were eager to see how I would respond.
Once more this week, I shared with this ever-growing group of young girls my personal decision to wait for marriage. I told them how old I am and how I view this part of me as a gift from God to be given to one man. I've wanted to be sensitive to the Lord's timing in sharing this and when I came face-to-face that day with the lie so many believe about their self-worth, I knew God was opening the door.
I've learned that many of the young girls, having no respect for their bodies, get dressed up at night to hang out as men go "a la caza" or "on the hunt," as if women were animals. My friend Judith, a missionary from Mexico, shared with me how she overheard a young man openly and proudly confessing these words, and how when someone corrected him in saying that these girls are not animals, he begged to differ.
Now you tell me... how is that any different than dogs in heat?
This brings me to answered prayer.
I've shared how, since the moment I stepped foot in Zion Village the beginning of this year, the Lord not only placed empower girls on my heart, but a discipleship program for the boys, as well. I have been praying and praying for this, because I know no lasting change will occur in the lives of these girls as long as they have men chasing after them and continually speaking the lie that women have no value.
I am THRILLED to announce that Judith's husband, Daniel, is leading a sports discipleship program to reach these young men.
Daniel with the boys
Now, more than ever, we need your prayers. Would you join me in praying Matthew 9:37-38?
"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
With our numbers growing, Daniel and I can't do this alone. I'm praying the Lord sends us selfless workers who speak Spanish fluently and who are passionately on fire for God and leading young men and women. There is no doubt in me that God plans to strengthen and expand this ministry in reaching more of His lost and hurting children. We need discernment and wisdom, and we're boldly asking Jesus for His resurrection power and life-changing miracles.
I cannot thank my readers and supporters enough for your financial and prayerful support of this mission. I stand firmly by my belief that your prayers are the greatest gift you could ever offer and I'm pleading for more. You are just as important in this mission as any one person here and your prayers for lives to be changed and transformed are working as you read this... Hallelujah!
The dogs won't change their mating habits, they are already living out God's design. But are we?
I believe God is doing a new work, raising the dead to life, and His people will return to Him as they come to know the love of Jesus.
